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R.I.P.

Filed under: Anglophilia > Music Minute > R.I.P. > Paul McCartney

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Neil Aspinall, known to many as the 'fifth Beatle', has passed away in New York City.

He was 66.

Mr. Aspinall, who lived in England, was receiving treatment for lung cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center when he died.

A school friend of the Beatles' Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Aspinall was the band's first road manager and would drive them to gigs in his van. He later became their personal assistant, and in 1968 was given a management role at Apple Records — The Beatles' own record label.

The BBC reports that despite no musical training, he sang in the chorus of the classic song, Yellow Submarine.

In a joint statement the surviving band members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, proclaim:

"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man…As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come."

[Image via Getty Images.]

    Posted: Mar 24, 2008 at 1:16 pm / Email this  »
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    82 comments to “R.I.P.”

    1. Cin says – reply to this


      1

      Awh =(

    2. Chuck says – reply to this


      2

      Let me guess….He is a big Homo????
      2nd……..
      Fuck USA

    3. Cin says – reply to this


      3

      Re: Cin –

      PS- FIRST!

    4. Cha CHa Walters says – reply to this


      4

      Never heard of him. So he's like one of about a hundred people who are supposedly the fifth Beatle…Pete Best, Billy Preston, Latoya Jackson…

    5. mama says – reply to this


      5

      hgjh0-[ompuop

    6. da truth says – reply to this


      6

      R.I.P, the world has lost a great man

    7. bathog says – reply to this


      7

      heather mills wants some of his money now.

    8. arianna says – reply to this


      8

      so sad :(

    9. she she says – reply to this


      9

      Sad…

    10. FUCK CHUCK says – reply to this


      10

      Re: Chuck – "chuck" your a fucking dumb ass shut the fuck up you stupid homo. IF YOU SAY FUCK USA GET OFF THIS WEBSITE YOU STUPID HIPOCRITEM

    11. xMercy says – reply to this


      11

      he was an amazing man.. brilliant.

    12. elyse says – reply to this


      12

      i met him once– he was a really kind and interesting man.

    13. Taejus says – reply to this


      13

      oh wow, another person dead.

      patheic.

      next?

    14. bnerd says – reply to this


      14

      Pete Best was the fifth Beatle.

    15. Chuck says – reply to this


      15

      Re: FUCK CHUCK – Fuck you, you big fat piece of shit….
      Let me guess, you work for McDonalds, and you rent a basement
      appartment….Get a Job, watch the news, can't you tell USA is going
      down the tubes……..Go Leafs Go!!!!
      and Fuck you!!!!

    16. Jojo says – reply to this


      16

      I thought George Martin was the fif beatles?

    17. Shannon says – reply to this


      17

      :-[ this is the worst news, Neil seemed like such a sweet guy. I'm pretty obsessed with the Beatles and I've watched tons and tons of documentaries on them, and they all seemed really tight with each other, Neil and everyone.

      :[ i'm sadddddddddddddddddddddddd

    18. KEVIN KONRAD FROM OLD BRIDGE NJ says – reply to this


      18

      AND IN THE END THE LOVE YOU TAKE IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE YOU MAKE

    19. Rammy says – reply to this


      19

      Soo sad

    20. ted says – reply to this


      20

      5th beatle? get that giant pumkin head out of your saggy ass.

      he wasn't the 5th anything.

    21. THEFIFTHBEATLE says – reply to this


      21

      WHATEVER PEREZ THE 5th BEATLE WAS BILLY PRESTON NOT THIS HASBEEN

      ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THE BEATLES KNOWS THAT YOUR FUCKING DELUSIONAL PEREZ

      LEARN YOUR FACTS

    22. eleanor* says – reply to this


      22

      fuck ringo star.
      hes not talented at all.

      rip neil. if only it was ringo. the REAL 5th beatle

    23. LuvPerez says – reply to this


      23

      So sad. He died of lung cancer…Paul and Ringo would probably be dead right now too if they hadn't stopped smoking. And if John hadn't been shot, he almost certainly would've developed cancer from smoking (if he didn't stop). People this disease is no joke. Stop smoking now! My father died almost nine months to the day after his lung cancer diagnosis. Neil was the fly on the wall in the Beatles dressing rooms, hotel rooms, concerts and recording studio sessions. I would've loved to have heard some of the stories he could tell. RIP Neil.

    24. I Hate Perez says – reply to this


      24

      Wow! He could sing the chorus to Yellow Submarine w. no musical training? Amazing.

    25. Eleanor says – reply to this


      25

      Few of you know how absolutely FUNNY this man was. RIP

    26. macca2000 says – reply to this


      26

      Perez,

      it contantly amazes me how in tune with the Beatles lives you are. The passing of Neil Aspinall is a huge blow to the last of Apple's core that remains. I can only assume that you are a huge Beatles fan and that is one of the things that keeps me coming back to your site.

      For everyone else: Neil Aspinall is one of the only two people in the world who you could call the "fifth" Beatle. It is sad that he is gone and with him the era of loyalty and friendship that no longer exists in the music business.

      Kudos Perez!!

    27. jojo says – reply to this


      27

      may he rest in peace

    28. CJ Parker says – reply to this


      28

      Fuck a black and get aids, Please do us a favor Perez!!!

    29. Clementine says – reply to this


      29

      I was coming on here to tell you that the 5th Beatle WAS BILLY PRESTON (I see others already called you on that)!!!
      Where was Billy's shout out when he died last summer?
      Dude, this Neil guy didn't even play with the band.
      Billy actually received recording credits.

    30. Jack Meoff says – reply to this


      30

      Perez

    31. slim says – reply to this


      31

      all of you are retarded… neill was a legend… billy preston played w/them on one session, neill was beside them their whole career, actually till 2007… show some respect…

    32. Heather says – reply to this


      32

      HEATHER MILLS IS A ONE LEGGED SLUT R.I.P NEIL ASPINALL

    33. hop on top says – reply to this


      33

      Re: Clementine – Billy Preston didn't die last summer. He died June 2006. So you're wasting your time looking for a shout out to him last summer sometime

    34. Whamo says – reply to this


      34

      I'm with Chuck….GO LEAFS GO!!!!!

    35. Ryan says – reply to this


      35

      Ally you ppl saying Billy Preston was the 5th beatle he wasnt. Even George Harrison said it was either Derek Taylor or Neil Aspinall. It just you Americans arent happy that the greatest rock band eva did not come from America so hve to claim them as yours! Well ha they come from my city Liverpool! RIP Neil

    36. MonoChromatic says – reply to this


      36

      Billy Preston was the fifth beatle…you fat nitwit…get yer shit straight! Pete Best was the ORIGINAL drummer, before Ringo. Preston played keyboards on just about all their albums.

    37. bathog=bathomo says – reply to this


      37

      So sad…
      he died and I never had the chance
      to do him

    38. OXA says – reply to this


      38

      HE AND PAUL WERE FRIENDS FROM WAY BACK IN THEIR SCHOOL DAYS, PAUL WAS IN NY VISITING HIM THIS WEEKEND.

    39. chimp says – reply to this


      39

      So sorry to hear about this.

    40. mspink says – reply to this


      40

      the 5th beatle was pete best

    41. KING OF MEAN says – reply to this


      41

      Another smoker, DEAD AT 66!!!!!!!!!!! Are you smoker's getting the message that maybe smoking isn't quite so cool? And I guarantee you the last ten years from 56 to 66 weren't even worth living… So enjoy your cancer sticks.

    42. TheDarkPassenger says – reply to this


      42

      Actually, Stuart Sutcliffe was the "Fifth Beatle" and the original bassist. During this time Paul McCartney played rhythm guitar. John Lennon met Stuart at the Liverpool College of Art. He left the band early on to pursue an art degree at the Hamburg College of Art. He also dated and later became engaged to Astrid Kirchherr, who was a photographer that had taken early pictures of The Beatles. Stuart collapsed in an art class in Hamburg and died on the way to the hospital of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 21. Get the facts straight.

    43. britchick says – reply to this


      43

      YOU STUPID DUMB FUCKERS, HOW DARE YOU SLATE THIS LOVELY BRILLIANT MAN, IF YOU HAD MORE THAN ONE BRAIN CELL OR HAD READ MORE THAN ONE BOOK OR LISTENED TO MORE THAN BRITNEYS GREATEST HITS YOU WOULD KNOW WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR MUSIC HISTORY…..IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME HOW THICK YOU AMERICANS ARE….READ A FUCKING BOOK…AND GET A FUCKING LIFE…

    44. dmblauren says – reply to this


      44

      i thought stuart sutcliff was the 5th beatle . . . .

    45. hannah says – reply to this


      45

      actually, george martin was considered the "fifth beatle."

    46. rockinkiwi says – reply to this


      46

      Re: Cha CHa Walters – So what if YOU never heard of him. REAL Beatles fans know who he is. He never said he was the fifth Beatle, but he helped make him who they were, even back in the day when they were trying to get a record deal, he was responsible for helping them get from audition to audition. He was a great man, and a key part of the Beatles success. …and Latoya Jackson the 5th Beatle? Huh? Was that supposed to be funny?

    47. bluesman says – reply to this


      47

      u

    48. bluesman says – reply to this


      48

      uhh george martin is the fifth beatle.

    49. michele says – reply to this


      49

      im pretty sure the 5th beatles is pete best

    50. Vinnie says – reply to this


      50

      Although Neil wasn't involved with the Beatles musically, he was the only other person that was a part of their inner circle. A mate. The Beatles viewed George Martin and Brian Epstein as "suits" even though Martin, obviously, had a hand in their music. BillyPreston, though an absolutely fabulous musician, only played with the Beatles during the Let It Be sessions. However, there was talk about Billy joining the band. Stu and Pete were members of the band, but before fame. RIP Neil. I just hope he has a book hidden away somewhere that will someday be released, not for scandalous reasons, but for historical.

    51. Gazzer says – reply to this


      51

      Neil was an amazing man who gave us the best Super Group ever. God Bless your soul and have fun with John and George.

    52. FUCK CHUCK says – reply to this


      52

      Re: Chuck – OKAY DUMBASS CHUCK FIRST OF ALL UM YOU MUST BE THE DUMB SHIT WORKING AT MC DONALDS BECASUE YOU ARE CALLING ME FAT AND YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ME IN YOUR LIFE DUMB SHIT HAHAH AND WHATEVER YOU THINK USA IS GOING DOWN THE TUBES DONT MAKE FUN OF A DEAD PERSON YOU HEARTLESS FOOL.

    53. jessica says – reply to this


      53

      So sad, thoughts are with his family and friends.

      AND FUCK ALL THE IDIOTS WHO POST NEGATIVE OPINIONS WHEN SOMEONE DIES. Tacky

    54. peggy says – reply to this


      54

      Thank you, Perez, for posting this about Neil Aspinall. He worked for and with the Beatles for over 40 years in one capacity or another. As for his being the 5th Beatle, everyone from Murry the K, Billy Preston, Mal Evans, etc. has been called that. Stu Sutcliffe was with the Silver Beatles before they changed to Beatles. Pete Best was the first drummer for the Beatles but was fired. There was no 5th Beatle, only 4. Neil was their roadie and then manager of Apple Corp. for almost 40 years. I don't think even he considered himself a 5th Beatle. Just a truly good and loyal friend and business partner. R.I.P. and thank you again, Perez. I don't see this story posted anywhere else.

    55. Ooba Gooba says – reply to this


      55

      Bnerd #14: Incorrect.

      Stewart Sutcliffe or Neil Aspinall was the 5th Beatle. Probably Aspinall, because Sutcliffe died before the Beatles hit it big. Aspinall was there for the whole ride.

    56. Jim Liu says – reply to this


      56

      Addios, ya prick.

    57. HRH Adam says – reply to this


      57

      OASIS - MADFERIT

    58. OXA says – reply to this


      58

      Click here: Neil Aspinall Beatles' Friend And Apple Mastermind Dies |Sky News|UK News

    59. OMG says – reply to this


      59

      WHY did you put this under Paul McCartney RIP?!?!?!?! I ABOUT SHIT MYSELF

    60. Jess says – reply to this


      60

      R.I.P. Neil. You will be missed.

    61. Truth Teller says – reply to this


      61

      Neil was a right proper chap… god bless 'im.

    62. Lauren says – reply to this


      62

      holy shit Perez don't EVER file ANYTHING under R.I.P > Paul McCartney again unless the unthinkable should actually happen..you nearly had me in tears.

    63. toby says – reply to this


      63

      Wow, Perez, both shocked and delighted you've covered Neil's death and respect the sadness it brings to millions. Thank you. This marks the 2nd or 3rd time that Paul McCartney showing up at a bedside means you're dead in less than 24 hours. He's like the public Grim Reaper ushering Beatles' "family" over to the other side. Horrible job, but bless his soul. And may Neil's soul rest peacefully.

    64. beatlesfan says – reply to this


      64

      thanks for covering this perez!
      neil was with the beatles for their whole career and managed Apple Corps.
      it's really sad that he died
      :(
      and he pretty much was the 5th beatle….he was one of few who were with the beatles the whole time
      rest in peace, neil

    65. :((( says – reply to this


      65

      OMG
      this is so sad!! you guys are so disrespectful. he helped them record they're stuff, and is arguably the reason they're music was so original.

      SHOW SOME LOVE.

    66. Alex says – reply to this


      66

      George Best was also known as the fifth Beatle.

    67. AngryWhiteGirl says – reply to this


      67

      FIFTH BEATLE? I've never heard of him before. Names like Pete Best, Stuart Sutcliffe, George Martin, Brian Epstein have been thrown around…but I've never heard of this bloke!

    68. THANKS FOR THE GREAT MUSIC, NEIL says – reply to this


      68

      WHAT A TRAGIC LOSS! THE BEATLES WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BAND, AND APPLE CORPS A VERY DIFFERENT COMPANY - AND SUCCESS - WITHOUT THE INCOMPARABLE CONTRIBUTION OF CEO AND LONGTIME CONFIDENT AND CLOSE FRIEND, NEIL ASPINALL. WE SHOULD ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR NEIL ASPINALL. IT'S VERY SAD TO SEE SO MANY OF THE BEATLES FAMILY LEAVING US SO SOON.

      LOVE AND PRAYERS FOR ALL OF NEIL'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

      THANKS FOR THE GREAT MUSIC, NEIL - REST IN PEACE.

    69. DO THE RESEARCH says – reply to this


      69

      THE BEATLES THEMSELVES NAMED NEIL ASPINALL "THE 5TH BEATLE." GEORGE HARRISON STATED IT DURING THEIR 1988 INDUCTION CEREMONY INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME. NEIL HAD BEEN WITH THE BAND/COMPANY SINCE THEIR (ASPINALL, MC CARTNEY & HARRISON'S) LIVERPOOL SCHOOL DAYS UNTIL JUST 11 MONTHS AGO. NEIL KNEW THE WHOLE INSIDE STORY AND NEVER BETRAYED A WORD.

    70. Anonymous says – reply to this


      70

      Perhaps everyone here might read Neil Aspinall's New York Times obituary (among countless others) to understand the magnitude of Neil's contribution to the Beatles.

    71. pucky says – reply to this


      71

      That's a fucking dumb thing to say. The 5th Beatle? That "title" went to Murry "The K" Kaufman, you dip. He was given that title by the Beatles, he didn't make it up like other people have.

      Murray the K was the main man responsible for getting the Beatles across the pond to the US.

    72. IM the fifth beatle says – reply to this


      72

      I would consider George Martin the "5th beatle" before anybody else. I understand why people say Preston is, but the people on this site sound like they are just regurgitating something somebody told them one time.

      I must admit, though his name sounds familiar, I can't recall a time when I heard what Aspinall's connection to the Beatles was.

      It seems like most people are under the impression that BIlly Preston is the one-and-only who can be called the 5th. I haven't a clue why. They're always so smug about it too. It's like there's a huge group of people who grew up in the 60s and 70s who heard that statement over and over until they knew nothing else. Preston was credited with them once. There are many other logical 5ths. George Martin, Epstein (though he'd never let you say that), Pete Best, Stu Sutcliff, this guy apparently.

    73. gared says – reply to this


      73

      What the hell do you expect? The Beatles are ancient old farts. I can't wait until they are all 6ft under. BEATLES SUCK ASS!!!!

    74. Reality in this Biyah says – reply to this


      74

      The Beatles fucking suck!! I have never heard so much trash in my life. There's so much better shit form that time that it is laughable that a yellow submarine song is considered skill.

    75. Hold it says – reply to this


      75

      Is his name pronounced "Kneel Ass Penal"

    76. Pmacfanatic says – reply to this


      76

      How sad for both Paul and Ringo. They have lost so many trusted friends and confidants. I just hope Sir George Martin is with us for many years to come. God bless you Neil, and thanks Perez for nice words about him.

    77. betty wiggens says – reply to this


      77

      Thought drummer Pete Best was the fifth Beatle…not to speak ill of the dead, but when does a manager get that kind of title anyways?

    78. Shag says – reply to this


      78

      Dammit! This is starting to be like "the no. 2 Al Qaeda was captured today." There are so many of them, ya just don't know. Billy Preston, the great organist, was also know as the "5th Beatle." What gives.

    79. lil~nunu says – reply to this


      79

      i dont even know who he is but that is sad

    80. Steve says – reply to this


      80

      To #29. I know more than a few blacks who would "fuck you up".
      STUPID MUTHAFUCKA!

    81. moni says – reply to this


      81

      Actually, the "fifth Beatle" was George Martin. He was sometimes called that because of his increasingly essential role in the recording studio in the later 1960s as the Beatles came to attempt more and more sophisticated arrangements and electronic engineering effects on their recordings… Read up on your popular culture people :)

    82. fyvgpuwrq gefbsawpx says – reply to this


      82

      tkgn gnpwhksar dkmrgs reqsc gmjl jwacptlu wofiht